Sip Into Summer

Experts Recommend Wines To Suit The Season

(CBS)  Do you simply drink wine, or do you taste it?

CBS News Correspondent Bill Plante visited “The Wall Street Journal Guide to Wine: New and Improved” authors Dorothy Gaiter and John Brecher and asked for their help in identifying some of the characteristics of wines that cater to the summer season.

Whether you are a novice or a seasoned wine aficionado, wine tasting is quite a personal experience, in which the senses of smell and taste play an integral role. But, says Brecher, “It is not just a question of the taste. It’s also a question of the mood and the moment.”

Some wines are associated with summer because of their adaptability to different temperatures. Brecher and Gaiter recommend Beaujolais as a classic summer wine, because it can be served at virtually any temperature.

“And chilling a light red, a nice young light red is wonderful,” says Gaiter, “It just makes the flavors pop in your mouth.” She adds that the younger the red wine, the more likely she would serve it chilled in the summer. “It’s hot outside, so you want something that's refreshing - and cool."

Sauvignon Blanc is a versatile, food friendly wine that Brecher calls, “Fresh, green and lovely, just like summer.” The wine has a worldwide reputation, and the brand that's currently in fashion happens to be Villa Maria from New Zealand. Unlike wines in traditional corked bottles, this is one of those young fresh wines with a screw top.

“More and more wines are coming with screw caps, because most people drink the wines that they buy within 24 hours of purchase. You don’t need a real cork to preserve it for a long time,” explains Gaiter. “As long as it’s closed, it’s going to be perfectly fine.”

Brecher and Gaiter strongly recommend Pinot Gris, a white wine made mostly in California and Oregon, for the summer. Made from the same grape as the broadly welcomed Pinot Grigio, Pinot Gris is a bigger wine and tastes more like “a fruit bowl, melon and tangerines,” says Gaiter. “It is just lovely, mouth watering … This is definitely the hot new thing, you heard it here.”

It's not often that you find a wine that you think everyone may enjoy. For example, not many people like the taste of rosé, which is sweet and simple. “We don’t drink rosé much in this country. Why not?” asks Gaiter. The authors suggest Gran Fuedo from Spain, which they say complements roast chicken well.

Sparkling wines are often a good choice for simple summer occasions. Cava, a sparkler from Spain, uses grapes grown mainly in the central region of Penedes. Freixenet Cava is a one-of-a-kind wine with a very casual and festive flavor that the couple recommends for celebrating a sunset or even just a fast commute home. Its beautifully crafted box is personalized, adding some romantic but unpretentious colors.

Editor’s note:
Here are Dorothy Gaiter and John Brecher's wine suggestions for summer:

Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais - average price $8.00
Villa Maria Sauvignon Blanc - average price $12.00
Rancho Zabaco and Pinot Gris - average price $13.00
Gran Fuedo Spanish Rosé - average price $7
Yellow Tail Australian Shiraz - average price $6.00-$7.00
Freixenet Cava Spanish sparking wine - average price $8.00